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- Feb 9, 2014
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- Peter
These are excerpts from the Q&A. To read about the draft, relocation, and stadium issues click the link below.
http://sports.live.stltoday.com/Event/Rams_chat_with_Jim_Thomas_87?Page=0
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Hardest/Worse regime you have ever covered from the top on down?
Easily.
---------------
I know your job as a reporter is to cover the team. Do you ever sit back and watch all the bad years and horrible ownership and really feel for the fans?
All the time, it seems, lately.
----------
Which teams was worse overall in St. Louis, the Cardinals or the Rams? We did get a super bowl with the Rams, although the Cardiac Cards were a lot of fun. Overall, though, we have had about many years of bad football and poor team ownership. Compare and contrast with baseball Cardinals.
Keep in mind, we're only talking about maybe three, four days of camp in California. And it's been something, I'm told, the Rams and Cowboys have been talking about for more than a year. But still, if you want to practice against somebody, it sure makes more sense to do it against the Bears, the Chiefs, the Titans, or the Colts. As for which was worse, Cardinals or Rams, in terms of St. Louis football, I haven't done the math with respect to won-lost records. But you did get two Super Bowls and one Lombardi Trophy with the Rams.
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Jim, I live in LA and if the Rams do have scrimmages against the Cowboys in Oxnard, would you be covering the Rams in Oxnard? If so, maybe we can throw down a beer or 2, on me of course.
I would think I'd be there.
-----------
Strange matter to me, that Philly signing of Tim Tebow. Wonder of your thoughts and how it relates to Sanchez, and more of interest, Sam Bradford.
Tebow would be a handy guy to have around if the league moves the extra point line up to the 1 1/2 yard-line (to encourage two-point conversions). When all is said and done, I think he'll be lucky to make the roster.
----------
People need to calm down over the Oxnard situation. Rams play at Oakland in WK 1-why not go out for a week and get out of the August heat then fly up to Oakland for the game?
Again, I think many Rams fans feel this is a case of Rams ownership just rubbing their faces in all this LA stuff. It sure seems to be a case of being tone deaf, PR-wise. Why not have joint practices with Tennessee when the team plays in Nashville?
----------
status of Barksdale or any other free agent offensive lineman?
Nothing new.
---------
Have Long and Well’s officially announced their retirements, or is it just Coach-speak to say, they’re still interested in potentially resigning them? (P.S. Any way Peade joins them?)
To my knowledge, neither Long nor Wells have announced their retirement. Again, I don't think they return to Rams for less money.
---------
A couple of weeks ago somebody asked a "where are they now question on Leonard Little"? Any update on what he's been up to?
He's living in Charlotte, N.C., don't know what he's doing in terms of work or business investments, etc.
---------
DO you see Cignetti using Kendricks more aggressively in the passing game this year? He might be the teams most under-rated pass catcher... while his running mate at TE might be their most over-rated.
Supposedly, the plan is to get Kendricks more involved.
----------
Over/Under on the Rams Defensive SACK total in 2015???
48
---------
Have they announced any throwback jersey games for this year yet?
Haven't heard. Not really high on my radar at this point.
-------
Is Fisher overrated?
This is a big year for him.
---------
EXPANSION 2017!!!!!
Under no circumstances should you hold your breath on that one.
---------
WHAT is going on with our O-line? Wiz just signed significantly under what I'm sure he was expected (prob 40% below expected salary), why aren't we moving to re-sign Joe B to fill that RT spot? We don't want to have 60% of new o-line or we're setting up offense for failure, regardless of scheme, QB, play-calling, etc.
At this point, most teams (and probably the Rams) are zeroed in on the draft. It may be that nothing happens on this until after the draft.
--------
For years, I've heard the knock on Barrett Jones is that he's not healthy or strong enough to compete. Can you say if he's finally come to OTAs healthy and strong enough?
He was notably stronger last year before his back surgery. We'll see how he gets through the offseason conditioning program and the OTAs this spring.
--------
Two days into the offseason program. what can you grade? Health and fitness? Command of the schemes and plays? Quality of execution? For anything that you can grade, what would your grade be?
Grade the players an A for attendance.
--------
How many QB's will the Rams carry this year, and who will they be in your opinion.
I'm gonna say 3 QBs: Foles, winner of Davis-Keenum training camp/preseason battle, and drafted QB.
-------
If the Rams draft a wide receiver, who from the current roster doesn't make the cut come August?
Now, the Rams could keep 6 wideouts. It's been done in the past. But if I'd have to pick one to go, without a day of OTAs or training camp to judge, I'd say Givens looks like the one in most jeopardy.
-------
Are negotiations with Barksdale dead until after the draft? Are the Rams considering going into the season with rookies as their starting RG and RT?
Looks that way. (re: negotiations w/Bark). As to starting rookie at RG and RT, keep in mind free-agent OG Justin Blalock is still out there.
---------
Jim, when the Rams moved to StL, their beat writer for the Sporting News was also a Jim Thomas. Just curious if he's still sports writing.
Yeah, funny. I think he worked for a paper in Riverside, Calif. As I recall, I think I may have gotten one of his checks before I took over those duties at TSN. Or was it vice versa? (20 years ago.) Anyway, I don't know if he's still working.
-------
How do you view the Rams LB
Solid group. Still could use some depth.
---------
I sense too much negativity about the team, the owner and the prior decisions. The team is on the right track. the team made fantastic, unorthodox moves 15 years ago, and got to the super bowl twice. The new management has had some success, and stabilized the team with quality and some risky moves. the rebuilding project is working.
Well, 11 straight non-winning seasons tends to wear you down.
--------
Where is the league on the Cheatriots “Inflate-gate”? The Saint’s get punished severely for behavior deemed detrimental to the game, but the Patriot’s actually do something against the rules and it fades away?
Pretty long investigation, isn't it?
--------
Are you satisfied with whoever plays Center?
I'm not saying that Barrett Jones or Tim Barnes couldn't play center. We just don't know, because neither has played much (although Barnes did get 4 starts in 2013).
----------
How is Brian Quick doing with his rehab and will he be ready for week 1?
Quick is expected to be ready for Week 1.
---------
schedule out tonight, right? how many monday, thursday, or sunday night games do you foresee for our rams?
I'm gonna guess the Rams get one Thursday and one Sunday night game. One home and one away.
----------
Any clue what Tim Barnes heard or didn't hear in KC that make him want to come back to STL?
Really don't.
----------
Was there a strategy behind not reworking Quinn's contract? Can't believe the front office would let the deadline slip by unless there was a plan.
Under Kevin Demoff, the Rams don't like to backload contracts, or push money into future years. They have kind of a pay-as-you-go philosophy.
http://sports.live.stltoday.com/Event/Rams_chat_with_Jim_Thomas_87?Page=0
*******************************************************************************
Hardest/Worse regime you have ever covered from the top on down?
Easily.
---------------
I know your job as a reporter is to cover the team. Do you ever sit back and watch all the bad years and horrible ownership and really feel for the fans?
All the time, it seems, lately.
----------
Which teams was worse overall in St. Louis, the Cardinals or the Rams? We did get a super bowl with the Rams, although the Cardiac Cards were a lot of fun. Overall, though, we have had about many years of bad football and poor team ownership. Compare and contrast with baseball Cardinals.
Keep in mind, we're only talking about maybe three, four days of camp in California. And it's been something, I'm told, the Rams and Cowboys have been talking about for more than a year. But still, if you want to practice against somebody, it sure makes more sense to do it against the Bears, the Chiefs, the Titans, or the Colts. As for which was worse, Cardinals or Rams, in terms of St. Louis football, I haven't done the math with respect to won-lost records. But you did get two Super Bowls and one Lombardi Trophy with the Rams.
------------
Jim, I live in LA and if the Rams do have scrimmages against the Cowboys in Oxnard, would you be covering the Rams in Oxnard? If so, maybe we can throw down a beer or 2, on me of course.
I would think I'd be there.
-----------
Strange matter to me, that Philly signing of Tim Tebow. Wonder of your thoughts and how it relates to Sanchez, and more of interest, Sam Bradford.
Tebow would be a handy guy to have around if the league moves the extra point line up to the 1 1/2 yard-line (to encourage two-point conversions). When all is said and done, I think he'll be lucky to make the roster.
----------
People need to calm down over the Oxnard situation. Rams play at Oakland in WK 1-why not go out for a week and get out of the August heat then fly up to Oakland for the game?
Again, I think many Rams fans feel this is a case of Rams ownership just rubbing their faces in all this LA stuff. It sure seems to be a case of being tone deaf, PR-wise. Why not have joint practices with Tennessee when the team plays in Nashville?
----------
status of Barksdale or any other free agent offensive lineman?
Nothing new.
---------
Have Long and Well’s officially announced their retirements, or is it just Coach-speak to say, they’re still interested in potentially resigning them? (P.S. Any way Peade joins them?)
To my knowledge, neither Long nor Wells have announced their retirement. Again, I don't think they return to Rams for less money.
---------
A couple of weeks ago somebody asked a "where are they now question on Leonard Little"? Any update on what he's been up to?
He's living in Charlotte, N.C., don't know what he's doing in terms of work or business investments, etc.
---------
DO you see Cignetti using Kendricks more aggressively in the passing game this year? He might be the teams most under-rated pass catcher... while his running mate at TE might be their most over-rated.
Supposedly, the plan is to get Kendricks more involved.
----------
Over/Under on the Rams Defensive SACK total in 2015???
48
---------
Have they announced any throwback jersey games for this year yet?
Haven't heard. Not really high on my radar at this point.
-------
Is Fisher overrated?
This is a big year for him.
---------
EXPANSION 2017!!!!!
Under no circumstances should you hold your breath on that one.
---------
WHAT is going on with our O-line? Wiz just signed significantly under what I'm sure he was expected (prob 40% below expected salary), why aren't we moving to re-sign Joe B to fill that RT spot? We don't want to have 60% of new o-line or we're setting up offense for failure, regardless of scheme, QB, play-calling, etc.
At this point, most teams (and probably the Rams) are zeroed in on the draft. It may be that nothing happens on this until after the draft.
--------
For years, I've heard the knock on Barrett Jones is that he's not healthy or strong enough to compete. Can you say if he's finally come to OTAs healthy and strong enough?
He was notably stronger last year before his back surgery. We'll see how he gets through the offseason conditioning program and the OTAs this spring.
--------
Two days into the offseason program. what can you grade? Health and fitness? Command of the schemes and plays? Quality of execution? For anything that you can grade, what would your grade be?
Grade the players an A for attendance.
--------
How many QB's will the Rams carry this year, and who will they be in your opinion.
I'm gonna say 3 QBs: Foles, winner of Davis-Keenum training camp/preseason battle, and drafted QB.
-------
If the Rams draft a wide receiver, who from the current roster doesn't make the cut come August?
Now, the Rams could keep 6 wideouts. It's been done in the past. But if I'd have to pick one to go, without a day of OTAs or training camp to judge, I'd say Givens looks like the one in most jeopardy.
-------
Are negotiations with Barksdale dead until after the draft? Are the Rams considering going into the season with rookies as their starting RG and RT?
Looks that way. (re: negotiations w/Bark). As to starting rookie at RG and RT, keep in mind free-agent OG Justin Blalock is still out there.
---------
Jim, when the Rams moved to StL, their beat writer for the Sporting News was also a Jim Thomas. Just curious if he's still sports writing.
Yeah, funny. I think he worked for a paper in Riverside, Calif. As I recall, I think I may have gotten one of his checks before I took over those duties at TSN. Or was it vice versa? (20 years ago.) Anyway, I don't know if he's still working.
-------
How do you view the Rams LB
Solid group. Still could use some depth.
---------
I sense too much negativity about the team, the owner and the prior decisions. The team is on the right track. the team made fantastic, unorthodox moves 15 years ago, and got to the super bowl twice. The new management has had some success, and stabilized the team with quality and some risky moves. the rebuilding project is working.
Well, 11 straight non-winning seasons tends to wear you down.
--------
Where is the league on the Cheatriots “Inflate-gate”? The Saint’s get punished severely for behavior deemed detrimental to the game, but the Patriot’s actually do something against the rules and it fades away?
Pretty long investigation, isn't it?
--------
Are you satisfied with whoever plays Center?
I'm not saying that Barrett Jones or Tim Barnes couldn't play center. We just don't know, because neither has played much (although Barnes did get 4 starts in 2013).
----------
How is Brian Quick doing with his rehab and will he be ready for week 1?
Quick is expected to be ready for Week 1.
---------
schedule out tonight, right? how many monday, thursday, or sunday night games do you foresee for our rams?
I'm gonna guess the Rams get one Thursday and one Sunday night game. One home and one away.
----------
Any clue what Tim Barnes heard or didn't hear in KC that make him want to come back to STL?
Really don't.
----------
Was there a strategy behind not reworking Quinn's contract? Can't believe the front office would let the deadline slip by unless there was a plan.
Under Kevin Demoff, the Rams don't like to backload contracts, or push money into future years. They have kind of a pay-as-you-go philosophy.
